Household wage growth in Missoula ranks 5th nationally; Montana tops Census charts

The increase in median household income in Missoula last year landed the city fifth among the nation’s metros, just behind Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Laredo, Texas, according to information released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Montana as a whole had the nation’s fastest growth in household median income, according to the data, outpacing California, ranked third, and Washington, ranked fifth.

"Montana’s wages are probably the number one reason why our household median income has increased so much," Barb Wagner, the state’s chief economist, told the Missoula Current on Wednesday. "We’ve had very strong wage growth in the state over the past 10 years – we’re the fourth fastest growing state in the nation for wage growth."

By Martin Kidston

https://www.missoulacurrent.com/government/2018/09/wage-growth-missoula/